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Selfies for/of Nepal: Acts of Global Citizenship and Bearing Witness

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Selfie Citizenship

Abstract

This chapter examines two very different ways that selfies were used to bear witness to the earthquake that devastated Nepal in 2015: selfies taken by locals ‘on the ground’ and selfies taken by those overseas wanting to show solidarity with the Nepalese. The chapter argues that these selfies and their differing public receptions function as acts of citizenship, highlighting the underlying discourses of nationalism and global citizenship that dictate what is deemed a morally appropriate response to such devastation. Ultimately, the chapter contends that the selfies that are intended to promote global solidarity and connectedness may inadvertently reinforce nationalistic borders and inequalities, while the globally controversial selfies taken by locals to bear witness to the devastation challenge what is institutionally recognised as ‘legitimate’ journalism.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Otago College of Education, Dunedin, New Zealand

    Catherine Hartung

Authors
  1. Catherine Hartung
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Correspondence to Catherine Hartung .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Manchester Metropolitan University , Manchester, United Kingdom

    Adi Kuntsman

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Hartung, C. (2017). Selfies for/of Nepal: Acts of Global Citizenship and Bearing Witness. In: Kuntsman, A. (eds) Selfie Citizenship. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-45270-8_5

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